P. The value of wisdom
summarized by contrasting
her invitation with folly's
invitation (9:1-18)

In verses 1-6 wisdom is pictured or
personified as a woman inviting people to a
banquet to partake of her benefits.

Verses 7-12 contrast the ways of the scoffer
and the wise.

7 He that reproveth (i.e. instructs or
admonishes) a scorner (i.e. a scoffer or
mocker) getteth to himself shame: and he
that rebuketh (translated reprove in verse
8) a wicked man getteth himself a blot (Lit.
his blemish i.e. an insult - Not only will the
wicked man pay no attention to the
individual trying to help him, but the man
will attack the one trying to help him by
insulting him).

8 Reprove (it is the same word translated
rebuketh in the previous verse and rebuke in
the next phrase) not a scorner (i.e. a scoffer
or mocker), lest he (i.e. a scoffer or mocker)
hate thee (he will not appreciate it.):
rebuke (it is the same word translated
reprove in the previous phrase) a wise man,
and he will love thee (he will appreciate it).
(You can tell the difference between a wise
man and a scoffer by his reaction to being
reproved.)

9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he
will be yet wiser: teach a just (i.e.
righteous) man, and he will increase in
learning.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning
of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy
(i.e. the Holy One = God) is understanding.

Compare Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of
the LORD is the beginning of
knowledge: but fools despise wisdom
and instruction.

11 For by me (i.e. wisdom) thy days shall be
multiplied, and the years of thy life shall
be increased.

12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for
thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone
shalt bear it.

The individual may choose to be wise
and will benefit from his choice. He may
instead choose to be a scoffer, scorner,
or mocker and experience the
consequences of his choice.

In verses 13-18 folly is pictured or
personified as a woman inviting people to a
banquet to partake of her benefits.

13 A foolish woman is clamorous (i.e. loud,
boisterous - the opposite of a meek and
quiet spirit, which is, according to I Peter 3:4 , in the sight of God of great price): she
is simple, and knoweth nothing.

14 For she (i.e. the foolish, clamorous
woman) sitteth at the door of her house,
on a seat in the high places of the city,

15 To call passengers (i.e. people who pass
by her home) who go right on their ways
(i.e. who go straight on their ways; i.e., who
are living in an upright manner - Ryrie Study
Bible):

She is pictured as inviting everyone to her
home.

16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither
(i.e. into her home): and as for him that
wanteth (i.e. lacks) understanding, she
(i.e. the foolish, clamorous woman) saith to
him,

17 Stolen waters (i.e. sex with someone
else's wife) are sweet, and bread eaten in
secret (i.e. eating bread which does not
belong to him, meaning having sex with
someone who is not his wife) is pleasant.

It is a reminder of Proverbs 5:15-17 -
15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern,
and running waters out of thine own
well. 16 Let thy fountains be dispersed
abroad, and rivers of waters in the
streets. 17 Let them be only thine own,
and not strangers' with thee.

18 But he knoweth not that the dead are
there; and that her (i.e. the foolish,
clamorous woman's) guests are in the
depths of hell (i.e. Sheol = the grave).
(Eventually, things will not turn out as
pleasant as he first thought they might be.)

10:1 - 22:16 - "The discourses
concerning wisdom and folly (chaps.
1-9) constitute a preface to the central
portion of the book, which contains 375
of Solomon's proverbs. These proverbs
are general principles and guidelines that
may have exceptions. Any exception is
not a problem of inerrancy, but a matter
of the nature of proverbs. They are true
as general rules." (Ryrie Study Bible)

"Most of the verses in chapters 10-15 are
contrasts . . .; the second line in most of
the verses begins with 'but.' Only a few
of the verses in 16:1 - 22:16 are
contrasts; most of the verses are either
comparisons . . . or completions . . .,
with the connection 'and' introducing
the second line in many of the verses."
(Bible Knowledge Commentary)

1 The proverbs of Solomon (Solomon,
writing under the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit, wrote most of the Book of Proverbs,
an estimated 84%.). A wise son (i.e. a son
who fears and obeys God and pursues after
God's wisdom as found in the Scriptures. He
has paid attention to his godly parents'
instruction and advice.) maketh a glad
father: but a foolish son (a son who does
not fear or obey God and does not pursue
after God's wisdom as found in the
Scriptures but chooses to go his own way.
He has not paid attention to his godly
parents' instruction and advice.) is the
heaviness (i.e. grief) of his mother. A wise
son makes both parents glad; and a foolish
son makes both parents sad.

2 Treasures of wickedness (i.e. wealth
obtained through wickedness) profit
nothing (They do not result in long-term
satisfaction.): but righteousness delivereth
from death (not only from physical death
which might come upon some because of
their sins but also from the second death,
being cast into the lake of fire, because the
righteousness of Christ has been given to
them by God).

3 The LORD will not suffer (i.e. permit or
allow) the soul of the righteous (i.e. the
righteous person) to famish (i.e. to be
hungry): but he casteth away the
substance (i.e. the desires or craving) of the
wicked. (This is a general truth. It is
ordinarily true that the godly do not starve
and that the wicked do not get all they
desire.)

4 He becometh poor that dealeth (i.e.
works) with a slack (i.e. lax, lazy, slothful,
idle, negligent) hand: but the hand of the
diligent maketh rich.

5 He that gathereth in summer
(summertime is harvest time) is a wise son:
but he that sleepeth in harvest (i.e. when
he ought to be harvesting) is a son that
causeth shame.